There is no lack of love for his baby sister!

Scheduling

So Jonathan has had quite a few evening work commitments the past several weeks. Combined with the class he is in on Monday nights, this makes for some long afternoons and evenings :) Doing dinner/bedtimes gets tricky with all 4 at the stage we're in, so I've found I need to have a plan from 3:30-8p in order to accomplish all we need to do in an evening. I've been making all my dinners during the day so I have no prep at dinnertime. Part of my plan this week has been to take the kids to the park as soon as H is off the bus. We pack snacks, scooters, and the double stroller. I walk/jog the first 30 min, and then let the kids play at the playground and in the soccer goals the second 30 min. Has worked great. We all burn energy, spend time together, and when we get home, we hit homework, dinner, little kids go down, then Bible lesson with some other bedtime reading in the boys room. I have loved it. I find with Henry in school all day, I want to maximize the 4.5 hours with him in the afternoon/evening. If I want that to happen, I have to be strategic! We are finding how important it is to have that time with him to build relationship. It's not just quality time, but quantity of time too... We've been having a ton of conversation about this lately -- But that's a whole other post!! Jonathan and I both know we are in a season. We wouldn't necessarily choose his schedule, but it is what God has given us right now. And He is providing the grace we need.. We honestly feel that. Thankfully! But it does require a lot of honest discussion and prioritizing!! It's not easy... But as a family, we are seeing Gods wisdom being poured out and for that we are thankful!

Graduated!

Bigger boy... Bigger bike!

Watermelon Harvest :)

The youngest and the oldest :)

the Out-of-Towners

Aunt Tabby

Grandpa Berry

 One fun thing about having a baby is that sometimes you get lots of out-of-town visitors :) I just wanted to post a few pictures of the family that made their way to Ohio to see Tessa. It was a blessing to see each and every one of them... and a treat for all the kids!

(Blogger is giving me fits... so I can't put captions on the others.. but there is Grandma Cooper, Grandpa Cooper, Aunt Meagan, Aunt Tanya, and Grandma Berry.) These days I don't have time ... or don't choose to spend my time... waiting on blogger! :)  Which is why I go through phases where there is much less writing!!

Mid-week exploring in Kettering

Loving this...

... amazing weather and amazing colors!! So beautiful tonite that we had to take a walk even though its bedtime on a school night!! :)

Speech :)

Myles' speech therapist let him make apple juice today. He LOVED it!!!

I try hard...

... to find the humor in stuff like this, but when it's 5:31pm, and I have 15 unpacked bags of groceries and Jonathan is gone until 9pm... it's difficult to! That's why I blog about it b/c then you can find the humor in it :) Bright side? Myles won't be cranky waiting for dinner!

A good first day of FALL

Hike at Germantown, Pretzel Festival... Yum! Last week we hiked at Sugarcreek. GREAT weather for hiking with the family!!

Tuesday School

Wyatt is doing Tuesday School again this year. It's a 1-day a week preschool program... on Tuesdays :) He loves it and it gives him something to look forward to each week. Cannot believe he'll be Kindergarten age next year. Crazy!!

These two little munchkins...

... are keeping me ON MY TOES lately. Wow. It's a good thing they're cute!! :)

Buddy Walk 2012

We had a great time! It was at the Dayton Dragons stadium, so the kids were pumped! Always so thankful for those who come walk with us as well as those who support us in spirit... a blessing indeed!!